St. Paul daily globe., 1887-01-13
WOMEN As OFFICIALS.
The Governor Thinks They Could
Serve rs NOdnrias .ubIic.

Il ne UDtcFhOT n n1hk EnPY COuIu
Serve as NOtarieS sublic.
The law relating to notary publlcs classes
such persons as territorial officers, and sub
jects them TO the qualifications required by
the general law, one of which is that they
must be male persons over the age OF twenty
one years. / know of no reason. moral or
political, why women should not hold the Of
fee Of notary public. | speak of this here
because l have had applications from worthy,
intelligent, capable women. which 7 have
been compelled to refuse solely because of
sex. The duties of notary public are not
such as to conflict with even the traditional
sentiment regarding womans sphere. Fe-
males IN; Y already, Under the existing stat
ute, hold the office of county superintendent
of public education, which is certainty q po-
stion of much more Importance and vastly
more difficult TO ill than the place of notary
public. l hope the legislature will so amend
the law as to do away with this restriction on
account of sex.
SOLDIERS HOME.
The territory should take the initial steps
to construct home for disabled soldiers. We
do not need this now, but the time Is coming
when it will be required. There are between
ten and twenty thousand old soldiers in Da-
kota. For the most part they are thrifty and
prosperous, but misfortune will overtake
some and they should not be left without
provision. Our old soldiers must not become
mendicants, or occupy poor houses. I recon-
mend the setting side of q certain percent
age, either of the @ venue or of the bonds re-
deemed, as fund for this purpose, and
which Will, in few years, enable us TO con-
struct a home worthy of the object TO which
it is dedicated.
SALE OF RAILWAY LAND FOR TAXES.
A serious embarrassment has arisen under
the decision of the supreme court of the
United States in relation to the taxation of
lands, the title of which is in a land grant
railroad company. In many eases these
lands have been sold for delinquent taxes
and have been purchased by parties who
hold title from the county, which must make
the purchase whole. A proportion of these
taxes have been paid into the territorial
treasury, and it is only just that when the
counties are called upon to refund, the terri
tory should return its share to those thus af-
fected. This cannot be done without legisa-
tive authority.
PUBLIC EXAMINER.
l am satisfied that thousands of dollars
would be saved and public business expedited
by the appointment of public examiner
authorized to prescribe q system of books
and bookkeeping for the guidance of county
officers. look after errors, adjust differences
enforce prompt settlements etc. The treas
urer gives N his report a table of county de-
inquencies. which affords food for much re-
HectIon. There has not been a case of loss
by defaulting treasurer in the territory
which has come to my knowledge, that would
not have been prevented by diligent and
faithful public examiner. As now managed
in many counties of the terri. .ory, a treasurer
can go on Systematically defraudng the peo-
pie with little risk of exposure Unless
the commissioners and clerks are uu-
usually efficient there are practically
no checks upon him. Bonds. too. are
frequently fled where the sureties are worth
less Few persons deem It their personal
business to scrutinize and complain of in
sufficient sureties, and even if they know the
facts. men hesitate to provoke enmity nv
opJeetlon. In a late case of suit against
pondsmen it was discovered, much to the sur
prise of everybody. that the principal had
never signed the bond. All this laylty. csre-
lessness, or dishonesty, could be largely pre-
vented by a public examiner charged with
the special duty of inspecting such matters
am told that no Office in Minnesota is
deemed more indispensable than the one hay-
ing this duty in charge.
THE ACT LIMITING TERRITORIAL INHERITED
NESS.
Inc credit OF the territory, as we'll as the
credlt OF municipalities. is strengthened and
improved by the passage Of law by congress
limiting Indebtedness. Under that law the
territory cannot contract deb is to an amount
exceeding one per centum on the assessed
valuation OF the property of the territory
Our assessment being 1882 600, 600, and our
present Indebtedness S56S. 700, it will be seen
mat we have not reached half the prescribed
limit Loaus may be made for the erection
of penal, charitable and educational institr1-
mons, put for no other purposes. The legis-
lature Will take notice also of the fact that
the law OF congress prohibits the passage of
local or special laws in any of the folIowln O
cases:
Granting divorces. Changing the names of